Insurance dispute costs Bridgeport man potentially life-saving treatment
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY) — For the past two years, a Bridgeport, West Virginia man suffering from cancer has been searching for an operation that could improve his health, but after denials and disputes with his insurance provider, his family says that he may have missed his chance.
A report from NBC News on Thursday night spoke about Eric Tennant, a Bridgeport resident who works at the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training and suffers from a rare cancer found in his bile ducts. He was diagnosed at stage 4 in 2023 and wasn't expected to survive a year, dropping below 100 pounds at one point.
In fall 2024, following nearly two years of chemotherapy treatment, Tennant's wife, Rebecca, learned of a way to potentially aid his condition through a 'relatively new' procedure known as histotripsy, NBC News reported. The procedure would use ultrasound waves to target tumors in Tennant's liver and could potentially extend his life.
His insurance declined to cover the $50,000 treatment.
Tennant is insured under West Virginia's Public Employee Insurance Agency (PEIA), and despite receiving a recommendation for the procedure from his oncologist, PEIA cited the treatment as 'not medically necessary,' NBC News reported.
West Virginia woman who traveled 6 hours for life-saving abortion calls for issue to be placed on voter ballot
After learning of PEIA's denial, NBC News reported that the Tennant family attempted to appeal the agency four separate times, all to no avail. Along the way, they were faced with other roadblocks such as UMR, a subsidiary of United Healthcare that manages PEIA plans through a contract with West Virginia, as well as MES Peer Review Services, a Massachusetts-based company that upheld PEIA's decision in March, saying that histotripsy is 'unproven in this case and is not medically necessary.'
NBC News interviewed the Tennants in April and noted that after it and KFF Health News reached out to PEIA with questions for its story, the agency changed its tune.
PEIA officials told NBC News that the agency had 'consulted with medical experts to further evaluate the case' and that Tennant was now, seemingly out of nowhere, approved for a histotripsy. PEIA Director Brent Wolfingbarger told the outlet that the decision to approve Tennant 'reflects a rare and exceptional situation' and doesn't represent a change in PEIA's overall coverage policies.
Despite the sudden approval, Rebecca Tennant told NBC News that it may be too late. She said that since Eric was evaluated in February, his health has declined significantly, resulting in him having to spend five days in the hospital in late May and early June due to lung and heart complications.
As a result of his health declining, Rebecca told NBC News that Eric is no longer considered a viable candidate for a histotripsy. She said she's hopeful that he will be viable once again after his health improves, but blames PEIA for 'wasting months' of their time.
'Time is precious,' she said. 'They know he has stage 4 cancer, and it's almost like they don't care if he lives or dies.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Nationwide recall issued for popular chocolate brand that contains potentially ‘life-threatening' ingredient
A popular chocolate treat is being pulled from shelves nationwide over an ingredient that may trigger severe – and potentially deadly – allergic reactions, federal officials warned. An urgent recall was issued after Lipari Foods discovered that its 14-ounce packages of JLM Branded Dark Chocolate Nonpareils may contain undeclared milk, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Friday. Those with milk allergies are urged to avoid consuming the potentially lethal candy. Select packages of JLM Branded Dark Chocolate Nonpareils may contain undeclared milk. USFDA 'People who have allergies to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume these products,' the dire bulletin stated. The Michigan-based company initiated the recall after its distributor, Weave Nut Company, alerted them that the candy may contain the dairy allergen, which was not disclosed on the packaging. But the sprinkle-topped chocolate discs, sold in clear plastic tubs, had already made their way to retailers across the country. The recall targets packaging with lot codes 28202501A, 29202501A, 23202504A, 14202505A, 15202505A, and 03202506A on the bottom label. No illnesses or adverse reactions have been reported in connection with the recall. Brent Hofacker – The FDA advised customers to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. No illnesses or adverse reactions have been reported in connection with the recall.
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Grieving parents awarded $2.25M after Georgia doctor plastered videos of their decapitated baby on social media
A Georgia couple whose baby was decapacitated during childbirth was awarded a $2.25 million verdict after their pathologist posted graphic autopsy videos on social media without their consent. Dr. Jackson Gates and his Atlanta-based business will have to fork over the large sum to Jessica Ross and Traveon Taylor Sr. after a Fulton County jury found him liable of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, and fraud on Wednesday. 'This young couple trusted him with the remains of their precious baby,' attorney's for the grieving parents said, noting that the doctor 'poured salt into the couple's already deep wounds.' 3 Jessica Ross and Treveon Taylor Sr., parents of a baby who was decapitated during childbirth. AP 'Gates, in turn, repaid this trust by posting horrific images of their child for the world to see.' The heartbroken couple hired the twisted doctor to perform an autopsy on their deceased newborn two days after their obstetrician allegedly applied excessive force to the baby's neck when its shoulders became stuck in Ross's pelvic area, causing it to detach during the traumatic July 2023 delivery. 3 The traumatic delivery occurred at Southern Regional Medical Center in July 2023. ERIK S LESSER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The baby's head was delivered vaginally, but the rest of the body was removed via C-section. The death was later ruled a homicide. Gates posted numerous videos and photos to his Instagram later that month, showing the grisly postmortem examination of their infants 'decapitated, severed head,' the couple said in their lawsuit. The deranged pathologist initially removed the footage after receiving a letter from the couple's attorney — but later reposted them, according to the lawsuit. 3 The couple was awarded $2.25 million in a lawsuit against their pathologist. AP Gates' attorney, Ira Livant, said his client typically documents his autopsy's on social media to educate fellow pathologists and highlight the importance of independent examinations in cases where families suspect medical misconduct. 'Dr. Gates testified that he is deeply sorry for any harm that he unintentionally caused the plaintiffs,' Livant said Saturday. 'Had he known for one second that they would see that and that they would know it was their child, he would never have done it.' The couple will receive $2 million in compensatory damages and an additional $250,000 in punitive damages from Gates and his company, Medical Diagnostics Choices, per the judgement. The bereaved parents have separate lawsuits pending against the delivering doctor and the Riverdale hospital where the horrific incident took place. With Post wires.
UPI
a day ago
- UPI
NIH office to phase out HIV guidelines by next year
The National Institutes of Health office responsible for issuing federal guidelines related to treatment of HIV and AIDS patients in the United States is making major changes. File Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI | License Photo June 21 (UPI) -- The National Institutes of Health office responsible for issuing federal guidelines related to treatment of HIV and AIDS patients in the United States is making major changes. The NIH Office of AIDS Research or OAR told its employees this week it intends to phase out the guidelines by next June, the Washington Post reported, citing an internal staff email. According to the office, OAR "coordinates HIV/AIDS research across the National Institutes of Health and provides the largest public investment in HIV/AIDS research globally." "In the climate of budget decreases and revised priorities, OAR is beginning to explore options to transfer management of the guidelines to another agency within" the letter obtained by The Post reads. The OAR guidelines contain guidelines related to diagnosis and treatments of HIV and AIDS. There are currently more than 1 million people living with HIV in the United States. It was not immediately clear what the other agency referred to in the letter was or how such a move may affect the guideline, the Post reported. The news comes as President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio move to cut over $8 billion from the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID and merge it into the State Department. State Department officials say the move comes with the expectation that other countries will increase their roles in delivering aid around the world. An April report published in the Lancet medical journal found around half a million children globally could die from AIDS by 2030 if the United States cuts its global relief funding. Earlier this week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved use of the HIV drug lenacapavir, which is produced by California-based biopharma firm Gilead Sciences under the name Yeztugo. "Yeztugo is one of the most important scientific breakthroughs of our time and offers a very real opportunity to help end the HIV epidemic," Gilead Science Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel O'Day said in a statement on the company's website
